KEEP SWIMMING: Aquatics task force discusses pool options

January 11, 2013

COLUMBIA CITY â€” Can an aquatics facility be built in Columbia City? Where is the money going to come from Where is it going to be built? These are some of questions the recently formed Aquatic Task Force is working to answer.

Wednesday the task force met for the first time and spent an hour discussing the options, as well as the challenges, in building a new aquatics center.

It was decided by the City of Columbia City to close Burnworth Memorial Pool in 2014. Due to an increasing amount of repairs needed and the growing cost to maintain the pool, the decision was made.

That sparked the next question â€” what does the city do now? Enter in the Aquatics Task Force. This group is made up of members of city council, the park board, school board, Whitley County Youth Council and area business leaders in the community.

Working to establish some sort of aquatics option, the task force has many hurdles to cross before area swimmers don their suits.

The public is welcome to attend the task force meetings. At the end of the meeting, public comments will be allowed. The next meeting will be on Feb. 6.

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